AUSTIN - According to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), based in Virginia, Austin is one of 123 metros nationally that reported an increase in employment figures between July 2011 and July 2012. The industry showed a 10 percent increase from July 2011 to July 2012.

At the end of July 2011, the Austin metro reported 39,000 construction industry employees. At the end of July 2012, the industry had 43,000 employees, an additional 4,000 employees.

A total of 165 markets reported employment declines between July 2011 and July 2012, AGC states. Another 49 cities reported no change.